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2. Effective self defence – awareness & martial spirit

The reasons why random attacks succeed are because (a) there is often more than one assailant, and (b) the assailants rely on the element of surprise.

Being caught unaware is the real problem. It is debatable what may or may not have happened if an intended victim had prior notice of an impending attack. But with awareness comes choices, even if the choice is to avoid or run.

Awareness will keep you out of more trouble than a good working knowledge of self defence techniques. So the first priority is to develop a constant state of alertness and be capable of responding instinctively and calmly to unexpected confrontations.

However, it is not easy to train directly for the unexpected because everything that happens in the dojo is expected. In the interests of safe training everything is seen and predictable.

I am not suggesting that Aikido training is a waste of time for this reason. This same issue is faced by most civilian dojo-based martial arts. What I am suggesting is that Aikido training slowly builds martial spirit which in turn develops awareness, alertness, instinctive response and a non-fighting mindset.

I can only speak for my own training when I say that the most valuable life skill that I have developed by regular training is a calm mind and ‘martial spirit’. Aikido is a path of internal or spiritual development. It contains within it a moral obligation to respect all living beings. Accordingly, Aikido techniques embody the principle of non-resistance.

Regular practice with a sharp focus on the martial aspects of Aikido, as well as its etiquette and traditions, helps build the martial spirit. Without these disciplines, the Art would be little more than a nice night out and some healthy exercise.

Martial focus must be maintained when practicing techniques that have the potential to be highly dangerous. Injuries occur when concentration lapses. Martial focus also develops sensitivity to training partners of different size, build, flexibility and gender.

Concentrating on the reactions of training partners while applying a joint lock will keep them safe and increase your own sensitivity to its effectiveness in people of varying sizes and flexibility.

Group training develops awareness and alertness, particularly when 30-50 people are on the mat together. You learn to know what’s going on around you.

Aikido is an up close and personal activity which puts people, both male and female, into very close contact with each other. That in itself induces fear that makes some beginners quit early.

For this and other reasons, etiquette is also a vital ingredient to martial spirit. It provides a non-threatening model for close personal interactions. It also helps establish a controlled setting for safe dojo practice and develops respect for teachers, partners and self, as well for the ancestry and lineage of the art.

In everyday life, people who are polite and well mannered tend not to have many enemies and they are less inclined to actively seek trouble.

-Gary

3. Thought for the week

“Most people achieve their greatest success one step beyond what looked like their greatest failure.” Brian Tracy